Obituary of Ola Vanoy Wood Manley

Ola Vanoy Wood Manley

24 February 1952 - 10 June 2019

Ola Vanoy Wood Manley was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, daughter of Carl Johan Wood and Evelyn Charlene Richards Wood. Growing up in the St. Elmo suburb of Chattanooga, she was educated at Central High School, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee where she graduated in Psychology, cum laude, in 1976.  She was married on 28 May 1977 to Ronald (Ron) Richard Manley, Jr. at All Saints Chapel at the University of the South.

She and Ron moved 19 times in their marriage together, in locations including Barbers Point, Oahu, Hawaii; San Francisco, CA; Charleston, SC; Jacksonville, FL and Northern Virginia, Syracuse, NY; Fort Wayne, IN and Lower Basildon, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

She is preceded in death by her sister Dolores Nell Wood, and her brother David Richards Wood. She is survived by Ron, her husband of 42 years, two children, Ronald Richard Manley III (married to Bengi Mezhepoglu Manley) and Evelyn Eleanore Manley Chybinski, and two granddaughters Krystyna Ola Chybinski and Zoey Vanoy Chybinski.  She is also survived by her sister Lynda Wood Mee, her brothers James Burnette Wood and Roy Thomas Wood, numerous nieces and nephews, dear cousins and close family friends, Joseph Stargel and Sue Christensen.  She is further survived by her sister-in-law Catherine Eileen Manley, her brother-in-law Nathaniel Edward Manley and Nathaniel’s wife, Beverly Anne Manley.

Ola focused on caring for her children and granddaughters; enjoyed travel in Europe, sailing with her husband in Charleston, SC; motor boating on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, the Occoquan River in Woodbridge, VA, and later on Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, VA. She enjoyed motorcycling with her husband in Syracuse, NY; Fort Wayne, IN; and Fincastle, VA.

Ola worked as an accountant in a variety of large corporations such as Integrated Device Technologies in Palo Alto, CA; and Carrier (UTC), in Syracuse, NY.  

Ola’s robust vocal performance (soprano) ability was well recognized in the large choral groups she and Ron supported that began in her college years at Sewanee and flourished in Syracuse New York, Reading UK, Fort Wayne Indiana, and Roanoke Virginia. 

A devout Christian and cradle Episcopalian, Ola served in several churches in the Altar Guild, as Treasurer in Christ Church, Manlius, NY and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Fincastle, VA, and as Soprano in the church choirs of Christ Church (Episcopal), Manlius, NY; Trinity Episcopal Church in Fort Wayne, IN; and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Fincastle, VA.

If contributions are desired, please make them to either the American Cancer Society or St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Ola’s name.

The Funeral service is open and will take place at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, 15 June, 2019 at 11:00am. Address for service inquiries:  St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 111 S. Roanoke St., Fincastle, VA 24090, Ph.: 540-473-2370.